Thread: Japanese Razor From Iwo Jima

Hi All!

My old Boy Scout Scoutmaster is a former Marine who survived Iwo Jima. He has a Japanese Folding Straight Razor in the box that it was purchased in that he found in a pillbox shortly after the island was semi secure. He also has the hone that was lying beside the razor. He loaned me both to have pictures taken. I sent the pictures to JimR, he was able to give me a little information. I was hoping that perhaps my fellow members could take a look and help translate the writings. I work with a woman who is from Japan, she can read the handwriting on the inside of the box, but can't translate what it says.

I stropped it and it actually gave a decent shave! Not scary sharp, but with two passes and a third on the chin, it met my companies shaving standard for over 24 hours!

The hone is two sided with a semi coarse and a fine side. (I've gone back to my original post and I'm correcting myself here! It's a fine side and a finer side)

Since I'm such a Mastodon when it comes to computers, Mike is going to post pictures. I'm sure he'll join in soon.

My old scoutmaster (Owen) is 88 and I'd really like to tell him more about the razor and what it says.

I hope all will enjoy this precious piece of history! Oh! Owen also served 9 months as part of the occupation force in Japan.

Great story. Thanks for sharing. I am eagerly anticipating the photos and the information that will come from them.

My dad served in WWII as well, but it was in Europe. He did not come home with any razors though. I do have his straight razor that he used before going into the service. He decided that he should not use it where he could get bumped at those long latrine sinks and switched to a DE.

My dad passed away in August of 2002. I really miss talking with my dad and wish I could tell him that I am shaving with a straight.

Treasure all the time and stories you can get (or have gotten) from your scoutmaster Owen. They are a precious thing.


I want to give my deepest thanks to all the veterans who have given so much to ensure the freedoms we have.

Yes! 1+ Let's hear and see! Looking forward to it! Historical razors are abundant, but this one has two stories!

ok, fella's, here is the razor and scroll work cudarunner was talking about. Sorry I was so late posting, but I was actually SHAVING, with my new Friodur, thanks to cudarunner!!!

Ok, here are the pics.. Someone give us a hand???

M

Thanks for sharing. That's a great bit of history you got there. How great it is your friend lent it to you.

I've read about the fight on Iwo Jima, a nasty piece of business. Anyone who made it back from there was tough and lucky - but mostly tough. Tell Owen Semper Fi!

...Ray

I've seen some cool razor stories and cool razors, but this one is definitely in the top ten in my book. Thanks for sharing.

Looks like your scoutmaster friend kept it well. A special piece of history for sure.

The hone looks perfect.

Originally Posted by Hirlau

The hone looks perfect.

I've seen a couple of videos where they talk about the Japanese way of honing as moving the blade back and forth/spine to edge. With the width of the hone only about 1 1/4" wide, it would seem that it would have had to have been used with X strokes!!??

That's a great story, what I find interesting is that for the original owner of the razor and the hone, the items were just utilitarian pieces of kit that just performed a necessary function. I don't imagine that it would have occurred to the owner that such a pieces of equipment would have been the subject of such international interest all of these years later.
Thank you for sharing.